At dinner the other night a friend told me that she and her husband would like to downsize to a smaller house.
They want less responsibility, less maintenance, and less expense. Many of my baby boomer clients have been expressing the same sentiment for more than five years, which is why I wrote Downsizing Your Home With Style when the trend became apparent.
If you too are thinking about scaling back and selling your present residence in the not too distant future, you might consider putting a plan into place now that will help make the process easier and will also increase the value of your home.
Start with one room. Scan everything that’s sitting on the floor. Then, one by one, remove any pieces that are not furniture (you’ve heard me say this before – it’s the starting point for decluttering any space). Toss stacks of old magazines and newspapers; give away or donate any little tchotchkes you don’t really need or love, even those you’ve had for decades. And clear away bric-a-brac from the tops of any tall pieces, too. Remember, the key words: need and love. Be ruthless.
And, while you’re at it, please part with your big CD or DVD rack and instead store your tapes in a drawer or in a cabinet where they will not be visible. Those racks haven’t been cool since 1995, honest, and they’re just making your cozy home look smaller than it actually is. Remember: only keep tapes you actually replay or you are just holding onto a bunch of dust-collectors. I know it’s tough but better to bite the bullet now and have a more open, spacious place to enjoy, and buyers who will make offers when the time comes, than a cluttered home that no one bids on.
After you finish with the floor, move to the walls. Try to keep one wall bare in every room, to give the eye a place to rest. Display only your best artwork – inexpensive and cutesy stuff looks great in a teenager’s room but not in an adult’s space.
When you’re done, relax and admire your work and decide which room you’ll be attending to next. Whether you do one space per week or two per month, the more you do now to make your home look open, airy and bright (and make it smell good!), the more desirable and saleable it will be when you are ready to have an open house.
